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Mr Barker, the country's leading ceremonial swan expert, added that they are put at further risk by wandering onto roads in search of food, because they are not getting fed.

The campaign also falsely claims bread causes the syndrome 'angel wing' - which is a birth defect and cannot be caused in later life.

Mr Barker said the coverage of the campaign has been inaccurate and 'confusing' for the public.

He added: 'Supporters of the campaign claim that bread should not be fed to swans on the grounds that it is bad for them. This is not correct.

'Swans have been fed bread for many hundreds of years without causing any ill effects.

'While bread may not be the best dietary option for swans compared to their natural food such as river weed, it has become a very important source of energy for them, supplementing their natural diet and helping them to survive the cold winter months when vegetation is very scarce.

'There is no good reason not to feed bread to swans, provided it is not mouldy.

'Most households have surplus bread and children have always enjoyed feeding swans with their parents.'

The concept that bread could be bad for aquatic life gained traction this year but the effects of it can already be seen.

The Queen meets schoolchildren during the Swan Upping ceremony on the banks of the River Thames

The annual ceremony dates back to medieval times when the King or Queen would claim ownership of the birds for banquets and feasts

Mr Barker says the campaign 'is already having a deleterious impact upon the swan population'

Mr Barker said: 'The "Ban the Bread" campaign is already having a deleterious impact upon the swan population.

'I am receiving reports of underweight cygnets and adult birds, and a number of swans from large flocks have begun to wander into roads in search of food.

'This poses the further risk of swans being hit by vehicles.

'Malnutrition also increases their vulnerability to fatal diseases like avian-flu which has caused the deaths of many mute swans and other waterfowl in the past.

'Furthermore, there have been statements made in the media claiming that feeding bread causes angel-wing in swans.'

Angel-wing is a condition where a cygnet develops a deformed wing.

Professor Christopher Perrins, of the Department of Zoology at Oxford University added: 'There is no evidence of a connection between feeding bread and angel-wing; at least some cygnets develop this condition without ever having seen any bread'.

'I therefore encourage members of the public to continue feeding swans to help improve their chances of survival, especially through the winter.'

The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton, Surrey, said that many of the birds admitted this autumn have gone hungry all summer, leaving them 'seriously underweight and malnourished'.

Dorothy Beeson, who has run the sanctuary for 39 years, said: 'This year it has caused lots and lots of problems for the swans.

'They are underweight and malnourished - most of them are affected.

'People have been feeding swans bread since well before the 15th century, and now this food source has been taken away.'

Steve Knight, who runs the sanctuary with Dorothy, added: 'I've met people out and about who said they no longer feed the swans because they think they're doing damage. It's fake news.

'Swans have evolved eating bread.'

Professor Christopher Perrins (left), the Queen (middle) and David Barker (right) accompanied by swan uppers who attend Windsor every year for the five day ceremony

Mr Barker works closely with swan rescue organisations and supervises the rescue of sick and injured birds

The Sanctuary has issued a stark warning on its Facebook page: 'Now more than ever our swans and other water birds need you.

'Sadly with many parks instigating a no bread policy, with no grass to graze on and little natural water vegetation it means the many have gone hungry this summer.

'Lots of the juvenile swans, geese and ducks we have begun to admit this autumn are seriously underweight and malnourished.

'Many of these stunted little chaps will not reach their full size potential as the damage has already been done.

'Families are moving off earlier this autumn in search of better feeding grounds.

'This means we have had whole families caught up in territorial disputes as they land in other families territories.'

The Sanctuary has advised feeding swans a cheap loaf from a local supermarket - as long as it's not mouldy, as well as soft green leaves, cereals, wheat, and corn.

Mr Barker advises organisations throughout the country about swan welfare and incidents involving swans, as well as monitoring their health and advising fellow water-users how not to harm the majestic creatures.

The Queen's Swan Marker, a historic and prestigious position, works closely with swan rescue organisations and supervises the rescue of sick and injured swans.

He also co-ordinates the removal of swans from stretches of the River Thames, a tradition which dates back to medieval times, when swans were brought in for royal feasts.

Today it has the practical function of keeping them safe from boating events, like the Henley Regatta.

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Queen's personal swan guard hits out RSPB's 'ban the bread' advice which is 'starving' the birds